Tag Archives: christmas

Holiday Whodunnits: Five Golden Wings and Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings

24 Dec

Five Golden Wings
by Donna Andrews
It is wedding time again in the funny Meg Lanslow Mystery series. In Five Golden Wings, it isn’t one, but two weddings that are happening between two of Meg’s feuding cousins who have chosen the same day to celebrate their nuptials in Caerphilly. This is mystery thirty-eight in the series, but you do not have to be familiar with the previous book to enjoy the mystery and humor in this novel. I’ve often bailed on series after they go on to long and stop being fresh, but Andrews’s writing continues to be engaging with another fun mystery and her always charming cast of characters. I also liked that in cozy novels sometimes characters can seem too perfect, but the stress of the wedding is making even Meg and some of her sweet family members get a bit cranky. The first in the series Murder with Peacocks also centered around wedding preparations so if you enjoy this one definitely check the original out as well. Andrews also has several other holiday themed entries including Halloween as well as Christmas in the series.

Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings
by Liz Ireland
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings was our holiday pick for this year’s December Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion. This year we decided to have added fun by inviting the Mystery Discussion members to join us. There are six books in the series so far including the latest Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine. The first book takes place not long after April married Nick Claus and moved with him to the North Pole where he is taking over the role of Santa after his brother passes away. When a grumpy elf named Giblet Hollyberry dies after discovering a black widow spider apparently hiding in his stocking, April decides to help solve the crime and hopes that it will exonerate her husband who the night before had been decried by Giblet. I liked that though there is a sense of whimsy in some of the description that this still felt like an adult novel and not overly juvenile. April’s adjustment to her in-laws and worries about the fact that she had a short engagement before marrying Nick are those many new brides experience. Ireland builds on bits of Santa legends and adds interesting twists of her own such as the sled reindeer all being female (based on the real life fact that males lose their horns in early fall/start of winter and females keep them through the spring). If you enjoy this unusual spin on the Claus Dynasty you may also enjoy Sara Raasch’s romance about another version of the North Poler rulers, Nightmare Before Kissmass.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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British Christmas Reads: The Eight Reindeers of the Apocalypse and The Christmas Swap

25 Dec

We have a lot of holidays going on right now and I hope which ever one(s) you celebrate are filled with happiness and joy. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Blessed Yule! Happy Kwanzaa!

Often because of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol I often picture the archetypal Christmas as one set in the UK. Here are two very different holiday related reads set there that I enjoyed this year in case you are looking for something festive. Hope you join us in the New Year for more reviews from our library staff. Happy New Year to all!

The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse
by Tom Holt
We read The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse for our December Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion. Though Santa is an important character in the story he takes more a guest staring than leading man role; this is a good pick for those looking for something timely, but a little less saccharine than a lot of holiday entertainment. The novel is part of Tom Holt’s J.W. Wells & Co. Series, the first of which The Portable Door was recently adapted as a movie. The firm (and the series) is named for the character from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operetta The Sorcerer. Imagine the British version of the TV show the Office merged with Terry Pratchett’s Disc World and you get the concept for this funny fantasy satire series which has office harassment taking the form of coworkers transforming into tea cups and interns literally left to save the world while their clueless bosses make a hilarious mess of things attempting to climb further up the corporate ladder. Check this one out to mix some ha ha ha’s with your ho ho ho’s!

The Christmas Swap
by Talia Samuels
The Christmas Swap is also set in the UK and written by another British author, Talia Samuels. This is more of a warm, fuzzy, feel good holiday read. Margot Murray is still healing from a recent breakup from her girlfriend when a work friend, unlucky in love Ben, offers her the perfect holiday getaway at his family manor house, all she has to do is pretend to be his girlfriend. However, when they arrive at the manor, Ben’s sister is immediately suspicious thinking Margot is a gold-digger and sets out to prove her hidden motivations. The twist is that of course Margot feels instantly attracted to Ellie. This is former chef Samuels’ first romance, but it was a treat so I hope we will see more from her in the future. The audio book is added fun since the two characters, Margot and Ellie, each get there own narrators: Kim Bretton and Emma Fenney and both give vibrant performances and interestingly juxtapose what each of the characters is outwardly saying, but internally keeping secret. Kim Bretton is an Audie Award nominee, a Broadway World Award winner, and was voted Best Actress in Nashville by the Nashville Scene. Emma Fenney trained as an actor at Drama Studio London, following a degree in Drama & Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths College, University of London. If you love a posh British accent then these two will delight.

You can learn about some staff favorite holiday classics in this past post. Looking for some quirky holiday music-checkout this past post!

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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